Trump and Clinton are beating their opponents before Super Tuesday

February 29, 2016

Republican Donald Trump and Democratic Hillary Clinton are solidifying their frontrunner statues with primary wins, and double-digit poll leads over their opponents. According to a new nationwide CNN/ORC poll released on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, both are expanding their national leads over their opponents. Clinton and Trump both have won three of their parties’ four contests going into Super Tuesday.

Trump is leading the Republicans with 49 percent of the support, nearly 30 more than his next opponent. Florida Senator Marco Rubio is in a distant second place with 16 percent support, flowed closely in third by Texas Senator Ted Cruz with 15 percent support. Rounding out the remaining GOP field is retired Neurosurgeon Ben Carson in fourth with 10 percent support and Ohio Governor John Kasich in last place with 6 percent.

Republicans are enthusiastic about this election and in their support of Trump, with 80 percent saying they are more enthusiastic than previous elections, and 39 percent of Trump supporters are enthusiastic. Trump supporters are also the most loyal with 78 percent saying they would support, and only 22 percent would support another candidate. A majority of Republicans are also committed to their candidate, 57 percent. Among Republicans not supporting Trump, 25 percent would not support him no matter what. The feeling is mutual when it comes to Rubio and Cruz.

Republicans think Trump is the best for the job of president; 51 percent believe he “would be most effective at solving the country’s problems.” Only 17 percent believe Cruz could be effective, Rubio 13 percent and Carson 10 percent. Trump is also the top choice to as “being best able to handle the responsibilities of being commander-in-chief” with 48 percent of Republicans feeling that way. Only 17 percent feel that way about Cruz and 15 percent for Rubio.

Republicans also feel Trump best understands the problems people are facing, with 46 percent feeling that way; Cruz is second with 18 percent followed by Rubio with 15 percent. Republicans are finding Trump to be the most honest with 35 percent saying that, Carson follows in second with 22 percent. Very few Republicans find Cruz or Rubio to be honest after Trump’s incessant attacks; they garnered only 14 and 13 percent respectively on the honesty factor.

Clinton is leading the Democrats by less than 20 percent, 55 percent to opponent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who has 38 percent support. Sanders support is slipping slightly since January. Clinton is basking in her huge win in the South Carolina primary on Saturday, Feb. 27 where she received 73.5 percent of the vote to Sanders 26 percent, an over 50 percent margin that crushed him, mainly because she received overwhelming support from minorities, particularly African Americans.

The demographics are split between the two Democratic candidates. According to CNN “men, younger voters, independents and liberals” are split between Clinton and Sanders. Clinton has more support from “women, older voters, moderates” and minorities while Sanders has more support from younger voters. Democrats are willing to support either candidate as the nominee with only 15 percent opposed to doing so.

Democrats are also divided in their views of the two candidates. Democrats believe Clinton “would be more effective at solving the country’s problems and can better handle the responsibilities of being commander-in-chief.” Sanders tops when it comes to honesty with 59 percent of Democrats feeling that way as opposed to Clinton, only 36 percent believe Clinton is honest. Contributing to that opinion is Clinton’s ongoing email scandal and the FBI investigation into her conduct as Secretary of State. When it comes to what candidate Democrats think best understands the problems people are facing, they are split with 49 percent saying Clinton and 48 percent feeling that way about Sanders.